I Go to Prepare

Frumentius and Edesius

*** NS: In the year 316...

The Complete Book of When and Where: In the Bible and throughout History 328—Frumentius Is Shipwrecked on the Ethiopian Coast

Early in the fourth century Frumentius (300–380) and his brother Aedesius, two Christians from Tyre, were shipwrecked on the coast of Ethiopia. They were taken as slaves to the court of the Ethiopian king in Axum. Gaining the king’s favor, they were appointed to high offices and given the opportunity to preach the gospel freely. Many people converted to Christianity, and a fledgling church was formed. The brothers strengthened it by bringing additional Christians from Egypt. Aedesius eventually returned to Tyre. In about 341, Frumentius went to Alexandria to see Athanasius (296–373) the patriarch. (Patriarch was a term applied to the bishops of Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria.) When Frumentius requested that he send priests to Ethiopia, Athanasius instead consecrated Frumentius as bishop of Axum. Frumentius returned to Ethiopia, serving as bishop until his death.

Matthew had visited in the age of the apostles?

The Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8?

Frumentius and Edesius brought the gospel to Ethiopia—and discovered Christians there already.

I go to prepare...

*** NS: It’s a remarkable thing that throughout the Bible we see God going before us to prepare the way for his people.

*** Image: Pillar of cloud and fire

***NS for Exodus

Exodus 13:21 NRSV

The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.

*** NS: In the book of Deuteronomy, after the Israelites have arrived and Moses is passing the torch to Joshua, he says to Joshua

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NRSV)

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

*** Image: God has appointed Cyrus the Persian as his instrument.

*** NS for Isaiah

Isaiah 45:1–2 NRSV

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron,

John 14:1–4 NRSV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

When we live lives fully committed to the Lord, we should not be surprised at various points to find that the Lord has gone before and prepared for our arrival.